In 2015, global leaders came together at the United Nations to agree the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - an ambitious and transformational vision of ‘a world free of poverty, hunger, disease and want, where all life can thrive’.
Tackling the complex challenges to realise this vision requires
interdisciplinary solutions, inclusive engagement, and participation by diverse
groups from across different sectors and disciplines. This includes
geoscientists.
Responding to
and supporting the SDGs, we are delighted to announce the publication of a new
book on ‘Geosciences and the Sustainable Development Goals’, coming in
December 2020. This book aims to catalyse engagement of the geoscience
community in implementing the SDGs, describing the role of the geosciences in each
of them. We hope this book demonstrates, to others engaged in development
initiatives, how geoscientists’ understanding of Earth systems, dynamics and
resources can support sustainable growth and decent jobs, resilient cities and
infrastructure, access to basic services, food and water security, and
effective environmental management.
What does our book include?
This book includes 17 chapters, corresponding to the 17 SDGs, and a synthesis chapter which integrates reflections and recommendations from across these chapters to consider how we reshape geoscience to help deliver the SDGs. The book was delivered by a team of international experts, involving 42 authors, from six continents, and at least 15 countries (including Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, South Korea, and Zambia).
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| Contributors to Geosciences and the Sustainable Development Goals |
This book
is about both science and the professional practice of science. We cover
themes linked to ethics, equity, conduct, and partnerships, as well as water,
minerals, engineering geology and geological hazards. Ensuring lasting and
positive change not only depends on what we as geoscientists do, but also how
we do this work and engage in sustainable development.
While we
focus on the role of geoscientists in delivering the SDGs, we also include
relevant context (political, economic, social, technological, legal and
environmental) to help readers understand how geoscience sits within the
bigger picture of sustainable development and build bridges with other
disciplines.
Each
chapter includes educational resources to help those with teaching
responsibilities support students to contextualise and apply the substance of
this book. Sustainability concepts are notably lacking from the traditional
education of many geoscientists, limiting their ability to engage in the SDGs. Our
desire is that this book will enhance teaching on the societal relevance of
geoscience.
We include
examples from across the Global South to illustrate the book’s themes. Central
to the SDGs agenda is the call to ‘leave no one behind’. Actions to deliver the
SDGs require actions by all countries and regions, but extra support may be
needed to help the world’s least developed countries and those with
geographical challenges (e.g., small island developing states and landlocked
African countries).
The SDGs are both science and geoscience intensive. Our book, and the diverse perspectives and examples of the global authorship included, demonstrate that geoscientists in all sectors and specialisms can play their part in securing a sustainable and equitable future for all.
Geosciences
and the Sustainable Development Goals (Edited by Joel C. Gill and Martin Smith)
is due for publication on 21 December 2020, by Springer International.
This book is a joint project of the British Geological Survey (www.bgs.ac.uk/) and Geology for Global Development (www.gfgd.org), and an output of the British Geological Survey NC-ODA grant NE/R000069/1: Geoscience for Sustainable Futures.
Dr Joel Gill is international development geoscientist at the British Geological Survey, joining in 2016. His research interests focus on sustainable development and disaster risk reduction, with a particular focus on the Global South. Joel plays a leading role internationally in championing the role of geoscience in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Martin Smith is a Science Director with the British Geological Survey and Principle Investigator for the BGS ODA Programme Geoscience for Sustainable Futures (2017-2021). A survey geologist by training Martin has spent a career studying geology both in the UK and across Africa and India. Martin is a Chartered Geologist and was awarded an MBE for services to geology in 2016.
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